belgium and back to germany

Arrghh.. I feel like I have so much to cover here and it's been so long since the last time I wrote an entry! And sorry, no pics this time.. they're on the laptop but I'm on the hostel computer..

Last I remember we were in Ghent. From there we went up to Brugges, which is only about half an hour away from Ghent. It was a cool town and we stayed at the Snuffel Inn. I always think of Snuffleuffagus from sesame street when I say the name.. haha.. We also found this great pasta place with 3 euro spaghetti.. it was soooo good and the owner looked like Freddy Mercury.. lol.On our first full day we rented bikes from the hostel and began the bike trip from hell. It was awful. Well, the scenery was beautiful, but the map was crap and we went waaaaayyy off the route and took the long way. All we wanted to do was have a nice ride out to the beach and have a relaxing day. It was supposed to take like 45 min, but took more like 2 hours. Once we finally got there it was really nice and sooooo hot (got a little more sunburned.. even though I wore sunscreen!). The ride home was even worse because we were worn out from being in the sun all day. It may sound like nothing, but honestly I think it was the most physically demanding thing I've ever had to do. My legs and body were like shaking. All and all I think we biked like 30 kms or something like that.. it didn't help that it was a blazing hot 35 degrees and we hadn't eaten since breakfast! (Belgium and Germany are going through a crazy hot spell right now) Ughhh.. but enough about that! At the Snuffel we also met our first travel buddy.. lol her name is Keira and she's from Australia.. We hung out for the remainder of our time in Belgium, and she came here to Germany with us as well because she has some extra time before she goes to The Netherlands. She has been here for 4 months already.. but is staying for 8 altogether, crazy eh!

Last night the three of us came back into Germany (Cologne again!) to watch the Germany vs. Italy match at the fan fest. It was extra crazy there because Germany was actually playing. The atmosphere was amazing and I think definitely a highlight of the trip so far. It was especially cool during the singing of the anthems. They really are so passionate about their country and the game of football.. it was very cool! We tried to learn some of the MANY German chants the crowd had going on as well.. everyone just sings their lungs out.. we did our best and got some translations from the people around us! It was quite a sad scene after Italy score that goal though =( You could just feel the energy die and there was just silence. Darnit we were hoping for another big party in the streets!

This morning the three of us caught the train down to Freiburg (where I am right now) which is in the south of Germany in the Black Forest region. It kind of reminds me of home actually! Lots of trees and hills (not quite mountains though!) We went to the store and got a whole bunch of food. It's quite cheap here.. A 1.5L bottle of water was 19 cents, and we got these big bottles of wine cooler for 99 cents! All of my food for the next couple days cost just under 5 euros. Tonight was pretty relaxing.. worked on some planning. We have July 12-18 booked in Berlin so we will be there for the Love Parade. Keira's heading to Rotterdam on the 8th, and Mike and I will probably go to Munich and Rothenburg before we head to Berlin.

Tomorrow we will get some trail maps and do some hiking around the Black Forest.. Don't worry mom, we will leave a trail of breadcrumbs so we can find out way back! (The Black Forest was inspiration for the story of Hansel and Gretel) and try to find some black forest cake! haha..

anywho, times a tickin and I still have to check my email... ta ta for now!

<3 shanon